Process for reconditioning yarn cones



June22, 1943.

A. apzwsss PROCESS FOR RECONDITIONING YARN CONES Filed Oct. 1, 1940 0 O F7 4 c c 7* /.5' A V mlmlmlmlmlmlm T H -.r

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Patented June 22, 1943 PROCESS FQR RECONDITIONENG YARN CONES Alvin G. Dewees, Philadelphia, Pa. Anpiication October 1, 1940, Serial No. 359,238

(Cl. iii-$69) Claims.

This invention relates to a method designed for the purpose of reconditioning used yarn cones by removing labels from their inner surfaces and removing dents and other uneven portions from their exterior surfaces.

At the present time it is common practice for manufacturers engaged in the production of yarn to wind the yarn upon cones which are usually made from a heavily laminated and glued cardboard or similar composition; these cones are suitable for repeated use if properly reconditioned after each use.

The manufacturer ordinarily affixes a label on the inner surface of the cone by means of an adhesive of mucilaginous character. During use of the cone of yarn upon various machines, the supply of yarn is exhausted and in many instances the cone is damaged to some extent by the separation of the constituent laminations and the making of dents and uneven portions in their exterior surfaces due to bumps and rough handling.

Proper reconditioning of cones requires the removal of the old labels since they ordinarily identify the grade and amount of yarn upon the cone as well as the manufacturer thereof; the separated laminations must be reunited and the dents must be removed if the cones are to be restored to an excellent condition approximating that of a new and unused cone.

Attempts have been made heretofore to remove the marketing labels so as to make way for a new label with the proper and desired markings thereon in order that no confusion might arise from the presence of an old label.

For example, attempts have been made to cut the old labels from the cone by use of a knife or to grind the same away by use of an abrasive substance. Both of these methods have caused an undesirable damaging of the cone surface and i have been so costly in time and efiort as to make the reconditioning of cones a procedure of questionable economic value.

Cones which are damaged in handling and in use, due to bumps and crushings of various kinds, have heretofore been consigned to the waste pile or have been sold in their damaged condition at an extremely low price for use with very low grade yarn. In their damaged condition they, of course, did not have the resistance of strong new cones and their life is considerably shortened if they are re-used in this way.

The present invention has in view, as its foremost objective, the provision of a method for reconditioning used cones by removing old labels and dents and uneven surfaces thereof by partially confining hot water vapors in the cones. With the hot water vapors so partially confined, and with the cones at a lower temperature than the vapor, condensation necessarily follows.

The heat .of the vapor and the condensation itself serve to weaken the bond between the labels and the cones so that an operator may readily wipe the labels free. The heat of the vapor and the condensation also serve to soften the adhesive and paper pulp which form the cones so that the dents may be smoothed out and the various separated laminations may be pressed into proper position; upon complete drying the cone then assumes the desirable stiffness and condition for repeated use.

Various other more detailed objects and advantages of the invention will in part become apparent and in part be hereinafter stated as the description of the invention proceeds.

The invention, therefore, comprises a method of reconditioning yarn cones which consists in introducing hot water vapor into the cones while they are at a temperature lower than the water vapor and partially confining the vapor in the cones, and then removing the undesirable features of the cones while they are in a heated and moist condition.

For a full and more complete understanding of the invention, reference may be had to the following description and accompanying drawing, in which:

Figure 1 is a view partly in section and partly in elevation showing a conventional yarn cone,

Figure 2 is a top plan view of the chest top with a plurality of cones arranged in proper relation thereon, and

Figure 3 is a longitudinal sectional view of the apparatus with one cone in section to illustrate the practice of the method of this invention.

Referring now to the drawing, wherein like reference characters denote corresponding parts, a conventional yarn cone is depicted and referred to generally by the reference character C in Figure 1. This cone is defined by a conical wall ill of appropriate thickness and is usually made of heavy lamina-ted cardboard or similar material. The wall ll! defines a large opening H at the bottom while the top is usually turned over to define the nose in which a small opening I2 is provided. These usual openings I2 have ordinarily been of approximately diameter.

The inner face of the conical wall It! is designated by the number l3 and it is upon this surface that manufacturers have customarily placed a label M which may bear their trade-marks and identifying indicia for the particular kind of yarn carried by the cone as well as its quantity. These labels are of the ordinary gummed variety and employ an adhesive of mucilaginous nature which retains a label 14 upon the face [3 when properly applied.

In Figure 2 is shown a cone support or relatively flat chest top l which is provided with a plurality of openings or conduits IS. The relation of the size of these openings l6 with respect to the smoothness of the cone support and size of openings 52 of the cones is important. With openings l2 substantially in diameter, it is found that with a comparatively smooth cone support the best results are obtained if openings it are materially larger or substantially in diameter. Proper partial confinement of vapor is then achieved since the incomsupply of vapor passing through conduit I5 is in excess of the avenues of escape through openings l2 and under the rimlike bases of the cones.

For economy of space and time, attention is given to the spacing of openings I6. It is most desirable to treat the largest number of cones C possible in the smallest amount of space and, consequently, a snug compact relationship such as that shown in Figures 2 and 3 is desirable. Since a conduit i6 should communicate with the interior of each cone C there should be a conduit (6 within the inside diametrical dimension of the open bottom of each cone C when the cones are placed in the desired and compact relation shown in Figures 2 and 3.

The support i5 is mounted so that the conduits it may communicate with the vapor chamber above the water shown at It. A water inlet is shown at IS for the purpose of introducing water into the chest H, the water level preferably being maintained at a constant level, as indicated, by known devices. Suitable means is provided for heating the water 18 so that it will give off the hot vapor. This heating means may take the form of a tubular member 20 which extends through the walls of the chest I! and receives a blast of flame from a burner nozzle shown at 2i.

When the water 58 in the chest i! is raised to an appropriate temperature of approximately 180 E1, it will release hot vapor. This vapor will rise through the conduits l6 and when the cones are placed thereover, the vapor will be partially confined within the cones, with an amount of vapor seeking escape through the small openings i2 and between the cone rim and support l5. However, this partial confinement of the vapor will provide heat and moisture to loosen the labels and soiten the cones also by softening the mucilaginous material between the labels and the cones and between the laminatio-ns of the cones themselves. Desirable condensation of vapor is enhanced because the initial temperature of the vapor is higher than that of the cone and label and escape of some vapor prevents such a rapid rise of the cone temperature as to impede condensation.

When a cone has been subjected to the introduction of heated vapor for a sufiicient period of time, and one minute is ordinarily sufficient, the operator may remove the label from the inner face with a fiip of the finger and remove dents and other uneven sufaces of the cone itself by pressure of the fingers in the desired direction to restore the original shape. In extreme cases a heated conical mandrel or form of a shape complemental to the interior of the cone may then be used to receive the reshaped cone while it is in the proces of drying. Thus, accurate reshaping of the cone can be assured.

While the preferred embodiment of the invention has been set forth it is to be understood that the invention is not to be limited to the exact steps and constflictions illustrated and described since various modifications of these details may be provided in putting this invention into practice, without departing from the purview of the appended claims,

I claim:

1. A method of reconditioning hollow yarn cones which consists in restricting communication of the atmosphere with the interior of said cones, introducing vapor into and partially confining it within said cones to weaken the retention of undesirable features carried by said cones, and then removing said undesirable features by manipulation.

2. A method of reconditioning hollow yarn cones which consists in restricting communication of the atmosphere with the interior of said cones, introducing water vapor into said cones which are at a lower temperature than said vapor and partially confining said vapor within said cones, and manipulating undesirable features carried by said cones so as to remove them.

3. A method of reconditioning hollow yarn cones which consists in restricting communication of the atmosphere with the interior of said cones, introducing water vapor into said cones which are at a lower temperature than said vapor, partially confining said vapor within said cones for a period of time sufiicient to weaken the retention of undesirable features carried by said cones, and manipulating said undesirable features to remove them.

4. A method of removing an adhesively-held label from the interior of a hollow yarn cone which consists in restricting communication of the atmosphere with the interior of said cones,

introducing water vapor into and partially confining it within said cone to weaken the adhesive bond of said label, and then manipulating said label to remove the same.

5. A method of removing a label which is held in the interior of a hollow yarn cone by a moisture and temperature responsive adhesive which consists in restricting communication of the atmosphere with the interior of said cone, introducing into and partially confining hot water vapor within said cone while said cone is at a lower temperature than said vapor, and then removing said label after said vapor has weakened the adhesive bond between said label and said cone.

ALVIN G. DEVVE-ES. 

